Manni Nössing is one of Italy’s most talented winemakers. In fact, all his wines are so good that it’s virtually impossible to pick the best of the lot, or even a favorite (although individual taste preferences will undoubtedly help guide that decision). Nössing’s most famous wine is his Kerner. In my view, the Müller-Thurgau Sass Rigais is just as good, while the Sylvaner his most underrated wine (sometimes I think by Nössing too). Nössing is the acting president of Eisackthal (Valle Isarco in German) Wein association which aims to spread the wine and food culture of the Valle Isarco. There are forty to fifty members including producers, restaurateurs, and the local tourism office, all working together to promote this beautiful part of Italy. And promote it they should, since the area and its wines are nothing short of breathtaking. The full name of the winery is Hoandlhof-Manni Nössing, but as that is fairly unpronounceable for anyone but native or enthusiastic German speakers, most people refer to the estate simply by Nössing’s name. The winery is perched (literally) atop a steep hill in the pretty town of Bressanone (or Brixen, in this rather Germanic neck of the Italian woods) and doubles as the Nössing family home. Getting there is best attempted with a smallish car, as you’ll find yourself driving through very tight, steep, hairpin curve-infested pretty little streets (over the years, I have always wondered about what sort of automotive gymnastics might be required if a bus or large truck ever happened to come down the hill while I was driving in the other direction; rather thankfully, I haven’t had to find out yet). However, the drive is worth it, for once you reach the journey’s final destination you are met not just by Pablo (Nössing’s very likable, friendly dog, a Labrador now getting long in the tooth but that has been a cute fixture of the estate ever since I can remember) but also with a beautiful view of the Valle Isarco, which sprawls out below. Surrounded by the steep and absolutely beautiful slopes of the Dolomites, a cool breeze always present especially when evening comes, you realize right away why making fresh aromatic whites should be de rigeur here. Although Nössing’s estate is Brobdingnagian in terms of wine quality, it’s pure Lilliput size-wise. Nössing owns only 5.5 hectares (13.6 acres) and rents two more, a situation common to the majority of Alto Adige wine estates, a region where individual vineyard holdings are on average so small that cooperatives rule. Nössing has been estate-bottling only since 2000, when he made the decision to do things his way, prior to which his the family sold grapes to the nearby Abbazia di Novacella. You might say Nössing has never had to look back. Over the years his outstanding wines have reaped, quite rightly, countless awards and high scores everywhere. Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com  (Feb 2017)

In fact he first bottled his own wines in 2000. Before that he sold his grapes to the Abbazia di Novacella co-op. In less than a decade, his wines, particularly the Kerner, have many times received the Gambero Rosso tre bicchiere award and found their way into top restaurants in London and New York. Well, I'd much rather he was looking after his vines than answering emails if this wine is the result. He has just 5 ha (12 acres) of vines around Brixen/Bressanone in the Eisacktal/Valle Isarco in the Südtirol/Alto Adige in the far north of Italy (every place name in this largely German-speaking region has both a German and an Italian version). He grows mainly aromatic whites (Kerner, Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Veltliner, Müller Thurgau) but apparently also produces a red blend called Espan (Blauer Zweigelt, St Laurent), which I haven't tasted. Kerner's parentage is unexpected: it is a cross between Trollinger, a generally rather lacklustre black-skinned variety known as Schiava Grossa in Italy, and Riesling. It was bred by August Herold in southern Germany in 1929 and apparently named after Justinius Kerner, a 19th-century writer of drinking songs! Although it doesn't really taste like Riesling, Manni Nössing's version shows some of the finest qualities of that particular parent, notably purity, intensity and finesse, though the acidity is a little less piercing. Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com  (Oct 2009)